You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us or post in the registration help forum for unregistered users.

If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

What of Lionel Croy?

What is the significance of Kate's dysfunctional family and, in particular, Lionel Croy, who only appears at the start and end of the novel?

Kate's father has a strange and, perhaps, terrible personality and history. Kate's sister, Mrs. Condrip, is decidedly unimpressive.

But what has all this to do with Kate, her psyche and behaviour, and her ultimately strained relationship with Merton Densher? What does Milly finally make of her, and is Milly as clear-sighted here as she becomes regarding Densher?

My tentative conclusion

Milly is angelic and acts for the best, and is vindicated stupendously! And Aunt Maud is right that Merton ultimately can do nothing to upset her plans for Kate. Perhaps this is best for him: not at all good but best in the circumstances.

Kate, like her father Lionel, is clever, urbane, attractive and seductive beyond belief but rather short on honour. In the ends she virtually kills the more honourable Merton Densher by her duplicity. He forfeits Milly's money and Kate's hand in marriage. He is left with love for a dead woman and a guilty conscience. Even so, isn't Merton is better off having escaped Kate's orbit?

Milly the dove, is indeed wonderful for, in the end everybody, including Lionel and Marion Croy, gets what they seek! A black ending indeed.

Listening this month to the downloaded mp3 "The Wings Of The Dove - Henry James - BBC Classic Serial" was an eye opener.

Last edited by Gladys; 01-30-2011 at 02:19 AM.
Reason: Merton is better off having escaped Kate's orbit